No HC relief for Ramdev
Shimla April 28
The high court today rejected the plea of the Swabhiman Trust to permit it to hold a yog shivir of Ramdev in Kangra and
Chamba. Declining the plea for interim directions, a Division Bench, comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary, observed that no prima facie case was made out to stay the orders of the Returning Officer.

Yoga guru a business tycoon: CPM
Shimla, April 28
Welcoming the ban imposed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on yoga camps of Ramdev, the CPM today said it was high-time he gave up his saffron robes and came out openly in his new avatar of Lala Ramdev, a business tycoon and politician.

Modi wave to spell doom for Congress, says Satpal Satti
Shimla, April 28
The saying that “Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown” cannot be more apt for any politician than Satpal Singh
Satti, who donned the mantle of the Himachal BJP president at a time when the party was ridden with dissidence and the breakaway group had formed the Himachal Lokhit Party
(HLP).

Elaborate arrangements for Modi’s rally today
Solan, April 28
Elaborate arrangements have been made for BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, who will address a gathering at the Thodo Ground here on Tuesday.
As many as 600 policemen, including the state police, National Security Guards and Modi's Special Protection Group (SPG) are overseeing the security arrangements.

Arrangements being made at the Thodo Ground in Solan for Narendra Modi's rally on Tuesday.

Fight with Anurag ideological: Vikramaditya
Shimla, April 28
Vikramaditya is making efforts to come out of the shadow of being the Chief Minister’s son after taking the charge of the State Youth Congress
president. Vikramaditya (24), son of Virbhadra Singh, is slogging overtime to come out on his own and prove that he is not just there because of his lineage but owing to his capability. And election time is the best to drive home this point. In his final year of MA (history) at St Stephen’s, Delhi University, it is undoubtedly politics that he has chosen as a career.

CM misusing official machinery: BJP
Shimla, April 28
BJP state president Satpal Singh Satti today accused the Congress regime, headed by Virbhadra Singh, of misusing the official position and government machinery to brighten the election prospects of the Congress.

I-T assns flay Board proposal
Palampur, April 28
After the restructuring of cadre strength in the Income Tax (I-T) Department, the state has been hit hard as there is a proposal for the closure of half a dozen offices along with an I-T range in the state.

Take action against Shanta's Trust, Sushant to CM
Dharamsala, April
28
AAP candidate from Kangra Rajan Sushant today asked Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to take action against the Vivekanand Medical Research Trust
(VMRT) headed by BJP leader Shanta Kumar. Addressing a press conference here, Rajan Sushant said if the CM failed to take action in the matter within one week, he would be forced to move the high court.

'Cong, BJP have widened chasm between rich, poor'
Karsog (Mandi), April 28
CPM candidate from the Mandi constituency Kushal Bhardwaj has accused the Congress and BJP for widening the chasm between the poor and the rich
through their policies.
Addressing election meetings in the Karsog Assembly segment, Bhardwaj said, "After the implementation of new economic policies in the country, pushed forward by both the Congress and BJP governments, 80 per cent of the rural and 64 per cent of the urban population is now malnourished while the number of multi-billionaires has grown manifold."

‘Stay connected with real world to avoid stress’
Kangra, April 28
Depression and stress are increasing these days because of globalisation and economic restlessness. Youth are largely depressed even though they are well connected through social networking sites. The only way to handle stress is to stay connected with the real world.

Prof Sagar Sharma addresses a workshop at the CUHP at Shahpur in Kangra on Monday. Photo: Ashok Raina

Polling in Lahaul & Spiti not easy
Keylong (Mandi), April 28
Holding elections in the snow-bound Lahaul and Spiti Assembly segment of the Mandi parliamentary constituency has posed a challenge for the district administration.
Being the largest area in the state and having nearly 22,000 voters, Lahaul and Spiti remains cut off from the rest of the country for nearly six months. Many areas experienced snowfall a few days ago and are still covered under the white blanket.

Remove HPU VC, DSW: CPM
Shimla, April 28
The Communist Party of India-Marxists (CPM) on Saturday asked the Election Commission to remove the Vice-Chancellor (VC) and the Dean of Students Welfare (DSW) of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), accusing the duo of illegally dissolving the elected Students Council Association (SCA) under pressure from the ruling Congress.

Pipal Jatra fest begins in Kullu
Kullu, April 28
The three-day state-level Pipal Jatra (also known as Spring Festival) got off to a colourful start in Kullu today.
Kullu District and Sessions Judge Purender Vaidya inaugurated the festival at the Lal Chand Prarthi Kala Kendra at Dhalpur. Rishabh Kalia, president, Municipal Council, welcomed the chief guest and said traditional fairs and festivals exhibited and preserved rich cultural heritage of the area.

Modi misleading people: Bali
Kangra, April 28
Transport Minister GS Bali today described the statements of Modi as misleading to catch the voters’ attention and such statements would not strengthen the democracy.
Bali was addressing a press conference here. He said Modi had nothing to present to the country, so he was presenting Gujarat as a model of development. His claims were far from the truth.

CM visits Anni
Kullu, April 28
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today addressed a public meeting at Anni subdivision of the district.
He said the Aut-Luhri road was converted into a national highway by the Congress party and the BJP government had no role in it.
He alleged that the BJP was carrying out a false propaganda and claiming the development works carried out by the Congress party to be their own.

Cong resorting to cheap tactics to hide failures: Dhumal
Hamirpur, April 28
BJP leader PK Dhumal has accused the Congress-led UPA government of its failure to contain corruption, unemployment and price rise.
Addressing election meetings at
Chauri, Rangad and Patlander under the Sujanpur Assembly segment today, Dhumal said: “The Congress is resorting to cheap tactics in the election to hide failures of the UPA government.”

Settle disputes through alternative methods: Mir
Shimla, April 28
Efforts should be made to settle disputes by adopting the techniques of Alternative Disputes Resolution (ADR) mechanisms such as arbitration, conciliation, mediation, lok adalats and judicial settlement.

Govts have not dealt with man-monkey conflict: Kisan Sabha
Shimla, April 28
The Himachal Kisan Sabha yesterday alleged that the ruling Congress and BJP governments had failed to deal with the man-monkey conflict as also the stray cattle and dog problems.
Cases of monkey and dog bites have increased over the years, the sabha said.

Cong flayed for annulling yoga campsPalampur, April 28Shanta Kumar, senior BJP leader who is contesting the parliamentary elections from Kangra, today condemned the Congress for getting Swami Ramdev’s three yoga camps cancelled. These were to be held in Kangra, Chamba and Rehan in his parliamentary constituency on April 28 and 29.
Talking to mediapersons at his residence here, Shanta said Ramdev was only organising the camps and it had no connection with the BJP politics. Ramdev had taken permission for these camps months ago and there was no justification for cancelling the camps at the last moment.
OC

Shanta Kumar anti-employees, alleges ChanderNurpur, April
28Chander Kumar, Congress candidate from Kangra, today addressed a number of corner meetings at
Suliali, Hatli-Jawalan, Nagni, Khazan and Kherian today, along with local MLA Ajay
Mahajan. Lashing out at BJP candidate Shanta Kumar, Chander said Shanta was anti-employees when he was the Chief Minister and was the brainchild of bringing the no-work, no-pay rule.
Employees were still feeling the pinch of that rule. He alleged that Shanta had done nothing for Kangra during his tenure as Chief Minister and MP and it was only the Virbhadra government which had undertaken the overall development of Kangra.
The election corner meetings were also addressed by local MLA Ajay Mahajan. OC

Thousands attend ex-minister’s cremationKullu, April 28Thousands of people participated in the funeral procession of veteran BJP leader and former state minister Kunj Lal Thakur at Kanyal village in Manali subdivision here today.
The minister’s family members and three sons, including Manali MLA Gobind Singh Thakur, senior journalist Chhavinder Thakur and Mahesh Thakur, were consoled by political leaders and prominent personalities. Former BJP ministers Khimi Ram and Chandersen Thakur, state BJP vice-presidents Ram Singh and Jai Ram, national treasurer of BJP ST Morcha Yuvraj Bodh, Ambika Sood, Pratap Thakur, Arvind Chandel, Joginder Shukla and others attended the cremation. Prominent Congress leaders were also present.
— OC

Dharamsala, April 28
The Yoga guru today fired a fresh salvo against Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Talking to newsmen, Swami Ramdev said, "Sonia Gandhi was anti-Hindu." He alleged that every year, about one crore cows were being culled and lakhs were being sent to Bangladesh where they were butchered.
In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the UPA government had maintained that Rama and Krishna were fictitious characters. All these illustrated that Sonia Gandhi was anti-Hindu, he said.

Ramdev also justified his "Rahul Gandhi honeymoon with Dalits" remark. He said, "My remark meant political honeymoon. I know that much English. Political honeymoon is a common word and I had indicated towards that while making a remark regarding Rahul Gandhi's visit to Dalit houses," Ramdev said.

He said the Congress was trying to misinterpret his remark to divide the society for votes. It could not blame him for being anti-Dalit as I was born in Dalits and had stayed with them. His organisation worked for the welfare of the Dalits while the Congress had failed to uplift them in its 60-year rule on the country.

Ramdev alleged that Rahul visited the houses of the Dalits in a picnic mode. By visiting the houses of the Dalits, he was trying to taunt them for their poor status.

The guru remained soft on Congress Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for cancelling his Yoga camp in Kangra. He said it was Virbhadra Singh who helped him organise his first Yoga camp in Himachal. "I hope he remains 'Bhadar' (a gentleman), Ramdev said.

He said the people had made up their mind for making Modi as the Prime Minister. The UPA government had betrayed the country. The Congress was now trying to sabotage my programmes in the country. The Election Commission was not being allowed to work freely. His fundamental right, according to the Constitution, Right to Speech was being quelled. The Congress was trying to impose an emergency-like situation in its last-ditch effort to regain power.

Ramdev was all praise for BJP candidate from Kangra Shanta Kumar. He said Shanta Kumar was among a few politicians who had spotless political career. Shanta Kumar was like a devta, he said.

Ram Dev said his supporters would work for ensuring his victory.

Responding to a query, Ramdev also said his organisation had moved the high court against the decision of the Himachal Government to cancel his Yoga camp in Kangra.

Earlier, Ramdev was welcomed by hundreds of supporters at the Gaggal airport this afternoon. Shanta Kumar, along with other senior BJP leaders, were present at the airport to welcome Ramdev. As he arrived, Shanta touched his feet and sought blessings.

Ramdev would be in Kangra for two days. He would also visit Chamba to campaign for Shanta, sources here said.

Shimla April 28
The high court today rejected the plea of the Swabhiman Trust to permit it to hold a yog shivir of Ramdev in Kangra and
Chamba. Declining the plea for interim directions, a Division Bench, comprising Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary, observed that no prima facie case was made out to stay the orders of the Returning Officer.

It further observed that the orders passed by Karnataka and Gujarat high courts were of no help to the petitioner as these were passed prior to the registration of an FIR against Ramdev. The order of the Election Commission (ECI) and returning officers were prima facie justified in the fact and circumstances of this case.

The trust was granted permission on April 16 to conduct yog shivirs in various parts of Kangra. The permission was accorded to the trust for the yog shivir on April 28 and 29.

The ECI issued a letter to all Election Officers not to permit yog shivirs involving political campaigning. In view of such directions, the Returning Officer cancelled the permission accorded to the trust to hold the shivir of Ramdev.

The petitioner trust contended that respondents had violated their right to hold shivirs in Kangra and Chamba on the pretext of guidelines issued by the ECI. It was contended that the code of conduct had no legal validity and Ramdev was not a political person. It was contended that the code was applicable to political persons only. It was added that the petitioner was ready to give an undertaking that no political activity would be carried out during the yog shivir.

However, the Advocate General contended that the only motive to organise yog shivir was to campaign in favour of a particular party. The ECI had taken a conscious decision to ban the holding of such shivirs to maintain peace and harmony during elections. It was contended that the statements of Baba Ramdev were found to be against the spirit of election and the FIR was registered against him for unwanted personal remarks. In these circumstances, the orders were just and reasonable warrants no interference.

The Bench, after hearing the parties, issued a notice to the ECI and the state government and directed them to file a reply in four weeks.

Shimla, April 28
Welcoming the ban imposed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on yoga camps of Ramdev, the CPM today said it was high-time he gave up his saffron robes and came out openly in his new avatar of Lala Ramdev, a business tycoon and politician.

In a statement here, member of the state Secretariat of the CPM Tikender Panwar said the honeymoon remarks made by Ramdev revealed a filthy mindset of a person who acted with a veneer of a saint. “He has been doling out advertisements to news channels as part of the BJP media strategy to create Modi wave,” he said.

Tikender said the activities and statements of the guru had brought shame to the saffron robe. “Ramdev is pursuing a single-point agenda of mustering electoral support for Modi,” said Panwar.

The CPM leader said they always saw Ramdev as part of the saffron brigade, networked by the Sangh Parivar, which became evident in the manner in which he supported the BJP in the Lok Sabha poll.

Shimla, April 28
Family members of candidates trying their electoral luck in this summer heat are sweating it out as they try to woo voters to support their husbands, fathers, brothers and mothers in this battle of the ballot.

Leading the flock are the families of the two stalwarts in their respective parties, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his predecessor PK Dhumal. With the CM’s wife Pratibha Singh being in the fray, she is busy campaigning in Mandi while her husband and son Vikramaditya Singh, state Youth Congress president traverse the hill state to garner support for the ruling party.

Aprajita, Pratibha’s daughter, has, however, had to give a miss to the campaigning owning to her exams as she is pursuing a course in textile designing in Manchester. She had for the first time campaigned for her mother during the June 2013 Lok Sabha bypoll.

“Normally she does not campaign but last time she did as she had a break from the college. Now she is busy with her exams,” says Virbhadra on her absence.

In sharp contrast to Virbhadra’s family, the women in the Dhumal clan prefer to remain in the background as they have always shunned political limelight. Despite being wife of two-time CM, Sheila Dhumal has never campaigned either for husband or son Anurag Thakur, who is contesting from Hamirpur. She is widely respected but prefers to confine herself to the domestic front, attending to people who come to their home at Samirpur near Hamirpur.

Similarly, Anurag’s wife Sheifali, daughter of former minister and Speaker Gulab Singh Thakur, too, prefers to keep away from public glare. “It is not that she is averse to politics but I am of the opinion that my two sons, aged 10 and 4, must have their mother around with my presence at home being occasional” is the explanation Anurag offers.

Santosh Shailja, wife of former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar, a retired schoolteacher, too is at the forefront of her husband’s campaign and is moving around in Palampur and nearby villages Kandi, Aima and Bandla with a group of women workers and relatives.

Shanta takes a lot of pride in the fact that none of his family members have taken to politics, which is why he always raises a din against dynastic politics. His son Vikram Sharma and his wife Sanjula too are managing the campaign.

The entire family of Congress nominee from Kangra Chander Kumar has plunged into his campaign. His wife has been extensively campaigning in Kotla and Jonta of Nurpur. His son, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Neeraj Bharti, and his wife Monica, who has remained the state Youth Congress president, are also working overtime to woo voters.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from Kangra Rajan Sushant’s wife Sudha, who contested the last Assembly election as an Independent is campaigning while his son Nishant also pitches in on every front.

Similarly, Abhishek, son of Congress nominee from Hamirpur Rajinder Rana, too has taken a break from his law course he is pursuing in Chandigarh, to be by the side of his mother, Anita. He is forever by the side of his mother, a political debutant who has been forced to contest the seat vacated by her husband.

Roughing out the heat and dust this poll summer, these family members leave homes early and return only late in the night as they manage campaign material such as posters, flags and other things.

Shimla, April 28
Politicians are busy presenting Himachal as "Dev
Bhoomi", the land of gods, in elections meetings, to woo people ahead of the Lok Sabha ( LS) poll.

The influence of devis and devtas in politics is understandable. Congress and BJP star campaigners --- Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Leader of the Opposition PK Dhumal --- do not lag behind in terming Himachal as Dev Bhoomi and grab attention of
devotees.

Virbhadra Singh’s Kuldevi is Bhima Kali, the mention of which he keeps making in his public meetings. Taking a dig at his BJP rival PK Dhumal he says that he is a believer in quackery, “tantra and
jantra”, a charge that Dhumal’s supporters deny saying that Dhumal believes in Lord Rama and respects devis and
devtas.

Even the left wing party CPM, the die-hard atheists, shy away from criticising devis and devtas in public considering its influence in the political scenario mainly in
Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Chamba, Sirmaur, Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti, Solan and parts of Kangra district. “We neither support nor oppose believers of deities as we are a true secular party,” says Sanjay
Chauhan, CPM leader and Shimla Mayor.

In Kullu district, a local deity of Shakti and Maror villagers in Sainj have made a new issue this election. Devtas and villagers have refused to move out from the wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary is proposed to be merged with the Great Himalayan National Park and declared as a Unesco world heritage site.

The BJP and the Congress dare not oppose the move as villages, mobilised by the NGOs, have threatened to boycott the Lok Sabha poll. Candidates visiting devis and devtas and seeking their blessings during campaigns is a common sight across the state.

Similarly, leaders in
Manikaran, Malana and inner and outer Seraj villages encourage cultivation of contraband crops of cannabis and even opium justifying it on the ground that Jamlu devta of Malana says the seeds and charas are presented to the deity and its cultivation should continue.

Even Virender
Kashyap, BJP candidate from Shimla, has talked about legalising opium cultivation to get votes. Himachal Lokhit Party
(HLP) chief Maheshwar Singh, who is a chief representative of Lord
Raghunath, is supporting the cause of Jamlu devta.

Devtas in Kinnaur go up in winter and come back to the temple in February. But we have kept Kamru Nag, Bairing Nag of
Sangla, Durga of Kothi village out of politics and never taken their advice on political matters, claims Inder
Negi, a Nag devotee.

Leaders, at times, make the targeted group of voters swear by their devis and devtas that if they vote outside the divine collective will, it will ruin their families. In certain cases, devotees are made to touch the
"churtha", the tail of hair of Gur of devta, reveal voters.

But this practice is on the decline even in the remotest of pockets across the state. Politicians appeal to deities mainly in the panchayat and Assembly elections and promise funds and development of temples and villages.

Legislators and MPs even fund renovation of temples. There are cases where politicians use new temples in buildings as a source of income. Even devtas have a caste hierarchy. The higher castes have different devtas while dalits or lower castes have their own gods.

Politicians influence main
kardars, gurs and pujaris who have their political affiliation. They, in turn, try to influence the general public behind the scene, said
Ajey, a poet. But this practice is surviving in remote pockets and takes place in the panchayat and Assembly elections. Even, the Election Commission of India also keeps tabs on this non-democratic activity,” he observes.

There is always some hidden alliance among top managers of devis and
devtas, observes Dr Tulsi Raman, a writer, who has penned a book, Deoraj in Hindi on devis and devtas in the state. Certain leaders consider themselves as proprietors of devis and devtas to earn maximum votes, he adds.

Fear of the gods

Virbhadra Singh worships Bhima Kali, the mention of which he keeps making in his public meetings

Shimla, April 28
The saying that “Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown” cannot be more apt for any politician than Satpal Singh
Satti, who donned the mantle of the Himachal BJP president at a time when the party was ridden with dissidence and the breakaway group had formed the Himachal Lokhit Party
(HLP).

The party lost the Assembly elections under his leadership in December 2012, but he did not lose the trust of the party and succeeded in bringing prominent rebels and HLP leaders back into the party ahead of the Lok Sabha poll.

A straight forward politician who gained organisational experience as front leader of the ABVP and the
BJYM, 50-year-old Satti gifted with the quality to deal with party workers and leaders and his ability to talk to leaders of different groups without any reservation had paid dividends for the party.

With a daunting task of ensuring victory of the party in the Lok Sabha polls, Satti is optimistic about victory of the party and gives reasons on which his perception is based…

Q: You have re-inducted most of the rebels into the party. Do you think that the party would have retained power if this exercise was done before the Assembly elections?

A: Definitely, when estranged workers and leaders come back into the
partyfold, it adds to the strength to the organisation. The national leadership takes the decision on return of rebels in consultation with state leaders and it is true that if rebels were taken back before the Assembly polls, we would have won 50 seats.

Q: There is an impression that the BJP is playing second fiddle to the
HPCA. How far is it true?

A: It is a false propaganda of the Congress which did nothing for promoting sports and the spectacular achievements of HPCA chief Anurag Thakur are “eye-sore” for the Congress whose only agenda is HPCA bashing.

The HPCA is just one issue in the state and the political vendetta unleashed by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to cover up the dismal performance of the government during past 16 months is a bigger issue. It seems that Virbhadra Singh is not the CM, but a former chairperson of the HPCA trying to find fault with the cricket body which has done commendable work in promotion of cricket.

Q: How will the state benefit if the BJP is voted to power in
Centre?

A: Our aim is to strengthen the economy of the state and provide employment to the youth and we are pinning hopes on the new government to expand the rail network, harness the tourism potential and promote industries to create employment avenues.

Q: How do you rate the performance of the government, what are the main issues?

A: The government has failed miserably on all fronts and is now raising frivolous issues to divert the attention of the people and trying to force a non-issue. The people are fed up with the price rise, corruption and unemployment and are concerned over threat to internal and external security. We are seeking votes on the Gujarat model of Narendra Modi and failure of the UPA government on all fronts in the past 10 years.

Q: Why issues such as one-rank, one-pension, share in power projects and the Railways were not addressed during the NDA regime?

A: Former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee had a soft corner for the state and a special industrial package was given to Himachal, Information Technology (IT) University came in the state, foundation stone of nine km Rohtang tunnel was laid during the BJP regime and Rs 90 crore was given by then Agriculture Minister Rajnath Singh to the state under the National Horticulture Mission. We agree that more could have been done but we want to know what the Congress has done for Himachal in the past 60 years.

Q: How do you see the poll prospects of the BJP in Himachal, are you banking on Modi wave alone to win the Lok Sabha poll?

A: We are confident of winning all four seats. The writing on the wall is clear that the BJP is going the form the next government at the
Centre. No doubt, a strong Modi wave is sweeping Himachal but we are also armed with our achievements, organisational strength and cohesive and planned election campaign.

Solan, April 28
Elaborate arrangements have been made for BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, who will address a gathering at the Thodo Ground here on Tuesday.
As many as 600 policemen, including the state police, National Security Guards and Modi's Special Protection Group (SPG) are overseeing the security arrangements.

The rally was earlier planned at the Police Ground located on the bypass road, but since the SPG did not clear the venue from the security point of view, Thodo Ground was chosen as an alternate site.

Modi had earlier addressed a rally in Solan when he was the party in charge of Himachal in 2003 during the Vidhan Sabha polls.

The police today undertook a trial review of the traffic situation which had put traffic on hold for quite some time on the Kotla Nullah Road, inconveniencing people.

BJP activists were seen wearing Modi badges and party flags were displayed on the main roads for the first time in this poll season.

1,000 police jawans to keep vigil in Palampur

Palampur: The Himachal Pradesh police have made elaborate security arrangements for the election meeting of Narendra Modi to be held here tomorrow.

Addressing a news conference here this evening, Balbir Thakur, SSP, Kangra, said: “Total 20 officers, along with 1,000 police jawans have been deputed in different parts of the town to supervise the security arrangements for the meeting.” .

He said Palampur town had been divided into nine sectors and each sector had been kept under the control of one officer. He said after 8 am roads leading to the town would be sealed and all vehicles would be detained at Holta, SSB Chowk, Kalu di Hatti and Thakurdwara.

Except ambulances, no vehicle would be allowed to enter the town till 12 am when the election meeting would be over.

He said, however, special arrangements had been made for school buses and these would be allowed to ply before 9 am.

He said Modi would land at the Gaggal Airport first and later fly to Palampur by a chopper. The SSP said the Gaggal Airport had also been divided into two circles and no garlanding of Narendera Modi would be allowed keeping in view the threat perception to the VVIP. He said only senior BJP leaders could receive him at the airport.

He admitted that this would inconvenience people during the four-hour stay of Narendra Modi in the town, adding that the same could not be avoided since he held Z-plus security and such security cover was mandatory.

Shimla, April 28
Vikramaditya is making efforts to come out of the shadow of being the Chief Minister’s son after taking the charge of the State Youth Congress
president. Vikramaditya (24), son of Virbhadra Singh, is slogging overtime to come out on his own and prove that he is not just there because of his lineage but owing to his capability. And election time is the best to drive home this point. In his final year of MA (history) at St Stephen’s, Delhi University, it is undoubtedly politics that he has chosen as a career.

What has added even more spice to the whole political drama is the fact that he has chosen
Hamirpur, despite his mother contesting from Mandi, as his playing field.

“It is not that I have made the Hamirpur seat a prestige issue or an ego clash with Anurag as most people would love to term it, but I felt that this is a constituency where the Congress was weak,” say
Vikramaditya, after addressing 10 election meetings in the Badsar constituency in Hamirpur district on Saturday and six in Haroli and Una yesterday.

He also makes it clear that it is not a personal feud, but an ideological fight. “I have travelled to all other parts of the state, but have been camping here since April 19 and will stay until the polling, as the party high command, including Rahul Gandhi and Sukhwinder Singh
Sukhu, is keen that we concentrate here,” he explains, the reason for the extra pain he is taking in
Hamirpur.

Not wanting to drag the HPCA controversy into politics, he says it is a sub judice matter and, moreover, law will take its own course. “My only grouse is that he has used the people to gain political mileage to further his own career, without bothering for them as he remained completely inaccessible” he says, referring to Anurag
Thakur, Hamirpur MP. He says the angst among the electorate on this front is evident though people are afraid to come out openly against the Dhumals in
Hamirpur.

“What I have learnt from my father is that what pays the most in public life is being humble, which is also the unique selling point
(USP) of Congress candidate Rajinder Rana in sharp contrast to the high flying BJP candidate,” he says.

He also accuses the Dhumals of being Himachalis only for political gains as for all other practical purposes, including business they are based in Jalandhar and elsewhere. He also takes strong exception to the BJP rhetoric of the Virbhadra regime lasting only till May 16.

“With due respect to
Dhumal, who is a law graduate and professor, I would like to state ours is a democratically elected government which will remain in office till the people want and not on the whims and fancies of the Dhumal clan,” he says irked with the remarks on the fall of the Congress regime in HP.

Of 38 candidates in the fray, only four are women and this comprised a candidate each from the Congress, AAP, Samajwadi Party (SP) and an Independent.

Aarti Soni is contesting as an Independent from the Kangra seat, while Urmila Sharma is the SP nominee from Hamirpur, making it the lone seat, where two women candidates are in the fray out of the total 10.

Despite having a sex ratio of 972, which is higher than the national level figure of 940, the number of women MPs in the Lok Sabha has been rather less in the state with the BJP never fielding any woman from the four parliamentary seats.

The Congress, on the other hand, has fielded Pratibha Singh, who is now contesting her third election. Being the wife of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has helped her procure this ticket though Chandresh Kumari, Union Minister for Culture, who is an MP from Rajasthan, was denied a ticket from the Kangra seat.

Women representation has been limited to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and their representation both in the state Assembly and the Lok Sabha has been appalling despite the fact that the share of women voters was registering an increase in every election.

Though Himachal has the distinction of reserving 50 per cent seats for women in its PRIs and urban civic bodies, the lackadaisical approach of the political parties in granting adequate representation to women in the Lok Sabha speaks volumes of the gender bias and the fact that women leaders, especially from the non-political families, are yet to get their due share in the Lok Sabha.

“Change starts from the bottom and the grant of 50 per cent reservation to women in the PRIs has enhanced their participation at the lower level, but the lack of women participation at the higher decision-making level will not help the cause of women empowerment,” quipped Anita Sharma, a social activist working for women’s rights.

She said unless significant changes were brought in the mindset and ideology of people, especially those holding position of authority, little would translate into reality such as empowering women.

Shimla, April 28
BJP state president Satpal Singh Satti today accused the Congress regime, headed by Virbhadra Singh, of misusing the official position and government machinery to brighten the election prospects of the Congress.

In a statement, Satti said the Congress was feeling so frustrated that it was misusing the government machinery and the entire administration to take on the BJP.

"As the poll is drawing nearer, Virbhadra is letting loose a reign of terror to harass his political opponents by misusing administrative machinery," he remarked. He added that the BJP, however, had full faith in the impartiality of the bureaucracy, investigating agencies and the courts.

"Government agencies are being intimidated by the Chief Minister to cater to his whims and this fascist mindset of his will prove to be his undoing when the people will vote for the BJP to bring in power an NDA government led by Narendra Modi," he remarked.

Satti said after the schedule for the Lok Sabha was announced, Virbhadra sought the approval of the Governor to prosecute former Chief Minister PK Dhumal for various made-up "offences" in connection with the grant of land on lease to the HP Cricket Association, he said.

He said it was unusual for an acting Chief Secretary to prod for the Governor's approval in such a case. "By making the Chief Secretary personally call on the Governor to seek her approval, Virbhadra exceeded his authority and denied the Governor the opportunity to apply her mind as he wanted to make an electoral gain out of this administrative action," he said.

He said Virbhadra also got an FIR registered against BJP candidate from Shimla Virender Kashyap on March 9 for a matter which was investigated by the police five years back in 2009 and he was exonerated.

Palampur, April 28
After the restructuring of cadre strength in the Income Tax (I-T) Department, the state has been hit hard as there is a proposal for the closure of half a dozen offices along with an I-T range in the state.

The information gathered by this reporter revealed that after the restructuring of the cadre strength in the Income Tax Department, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) had made this proposal.

Besides, the CBDT has also turned down the proposal of opening the new office of Commissioners of Income Tax (CIT) (Appeals) and administration at Palampur or Dharamsala for the northern region of the state comprising eight districts of Kangra, Mandi, Kullu, Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Chamba and Lauhal and Spiti.

Earlier, there was an office of CIT (Appeals) at Palampur which was also closed by the CBDT in 2006 resulting in great inconvenience to tax payers of the northern region.

A senior officer of the I-T Department said under new rules framed by the CBDT, there would be only three income tax ranges in the jurisdiction of one commissioner.

He said since there was only one income tax commissioner in Shimla for the entire state, who had jurisdiction over four ranges-Shimla, Solan, Mandi and Palampur-one range out of four along with six income-tax offices had to be abolished as per the new guidelines laid down by the CBDT.

However, it is yet to be finalised which range will be closed, and the axe might fall on Solan or Mandi range.

Meanwhile, the Income-Tax Bar Associations of Palampur, Una, Dharamsala, Mandi, Hamirpur and Pathankot today assailed the proposal of the CBDT and termed it as an injustice to tax payers of Himachal Pradesh.

They said in other states the CBDT had expanded its network by opening new offices of commissioners, but in Himachal it had proposed to close the offices established 20 years ago.

The associations said CBDT or the Ministry of Finance always ignored the interests of the state and extended a step-motherly treatment by proposing to close half a dozen offices.

Talking to mediapersons, Sandeep Kakkar, secretary of the association in Palampur, said the CBDT should review its decision. He said the CBDT should send a team of senior officers to study the difficult topography of the state before offices were closed, he added.

Dharamsala, April
28
AAP candidate from Kangra Rajan Sushant today asked Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to take action against the Vivekanand Medical Research Trust
(VMRT) headed by BJP leader Shanta Kumar. Addressing a press conference here, Rajan Sushant said if the CM failed to take action in the matter within one week, he would be forced to move the high court.

He said in 1992 when Shanta Kumar was the CM, the Vivekanand Medical Care Education Research Trust was set up. All members of the trust were government officials. In
Palampur, 419 kanal land was transferred initially in the name of the Health Department and later in the name of the trust. The land was transferred against the report of then district collector, Sushant
alleged.

Sushant further alleged in 1998 the name of the Trust was changed to the Vivekanand Medical Research Trust
(VMRT). All government members were removed from the board and six lifetime members were made in charge of the VMRT under the chairmanship of Shanta Kumar. The Health Minister was now just an ex-officio member of the trust.

He said the VMRT now owned the property of about Rs 225 crore out of which Rs 25 crore was donations given by people.

He also alleged that the land had now been transferred to the JP Sewa Sansthan that now had nine members out of 15 in the trust. As per the constitution of the trust, since JP now had majority members in the trust, they could misuse the land, Sushant
alleged.

Kapoor trashes charges

Former BJP minister Kishan Kapoor, reacting to the statement of
Sushant, termed his allegations baseless. He said Shanta Kumar had not made any of his family members as a member of the trust. He was just acting as the chairman. All lifetime members of the trust were renowned people who had performed in their respective fields. Shanta Kumar has till date not taken a single penny out of the trust but had contributed a lot from his own savings.

It was only Shanta Kumar who went on collecting funds from common people that led to the construction of two world-class health centres for the people of Palampur now.

Karsog (Mandi), April 28
CPM candidate from the Mandi constituency Kushal Bhardwaj has accused the Congress and BJP for widening the chasm between the poor and the rich through their policies.
Addressing election meetings in the Karsog Assembly segment, Bhardwaj said, "After the implementation of new economic policies in the country, pushed forward by both the Congress and BJP governments, 80 per cent of the rural and 64 per cent of the urban population is now malnourished while the number of multi-billionaires has grown manifold."

Attacking the UPA government for its failure in checking inflation, Bhardwaj said, “The prices of foodgrains almost doubled during the last four years, making the common man’s life miserable. The UPA Government gave a tax rebate of nearly Rs 21 lakh crore to big corporate houses.”

“A nexus between politicians ruling the country, bureaucrats and corporates, scams and corruption to the tune of several lakh crore rupees took place. It all increased the wealth of a few rich people at the cost of the common man,” he added.

He said, “The CPM supports alternate policies which are pro-people instead of those supporting corporate houses, presenting an alternative to the Congress and BJP in the election. People should vote for CPM for change in policies."

Talking about state-specific issues, the CPM leader said, “The number of unemployed youths in the state has acquired an alarming proportion. Recruitment in government jobs is being made on contracts, adding to frustration among youths.”

Kangra, April 28
Depression and stress are increasing these days because of globalisation and economic restlessness. Youth are largely depressed even though they are well connected through social networking sites. The only way to handle stress is to stay connected with the real world.

This was stated today by Prof Sagar Sharma, a noted psychologist and Professor Emeritus, Panjab University, Chandigarh, while addressing students and faculty members at the Temporary Academic Block of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh at
Shahpur.

Professor Sharma was at the CUHP as the chief resource person at a two-day workshop on “Stress and Anger Management” organised by the School of Business and Management Studies, which began today.

He said only one who stayed connected with the family and society through emotions could easily face challenges in this world. “The virtual world on which we rely more these days only connotes a sense of disconnection which is generally perceived as a false sense of involvement among youth today,” said Professor Sharma.

Prof Furqan
Qamar, Vice-Chancellor, CUHP, said the best management practice was the one which would encourage people to lead a purposeful professional as well as personal life.

Prof YS
Verma, Pro Vice-Chancellor, CUHP, welcomed Prof Sagar Sharma and said the workshop was an opportunity to learn ways of coming out of stress. Interactions would help students and faculty members to learn strategies to manage stress.

Workshop coordinator Dr Aditi Sharma, Assistant Professor, Human Resource Management, said the workshop would cover all major areas of stress and anger management.

Keylong (Mandi), April 28
Holding elections in the snow-bound Lahaul and Spiti Assembly segment of the Mandi parliamentary constituency has posed a challenge for the district administration.
Being the largest area in the state and having nearly 22,000 voters, Lahaul and Spiti remains cut off from the rest of the country for nearly six months. Many areas experienced snowfall a few days ago and are still covered under the white blanket.

This Assembly segment, which has the highest polling booth at Hikkim at about 14,000 feet, will go to the polls on May 7 and the district administration and the General Reserve Engineers’ Force (GREF) is trying hard to open the Rohtang Pass covered under snow.

About 5,000 residents of the district, who had migrated to Kullu and Manali during winter, are still waiting for the Rohtang Pass to open so that light vehicles could ply.

Many of them have already taken chopper flights or are using alternative route via Kishtwar to reach home, besides walking through the snow-covered road beyond Marhi to Koksar.

Former MLA of Lahaul and Spiti Ram Lal Markanda said: “I was stuck with campaign material at Kullu for three days and took a chopper flight to reach back.”

BS Thakur, DC, Lahaul and Spiti, said: “We are fully prepared to hold polling in the constituency on May 7 in all 90 booths-62 in Lahaul and 28 in Spiti.”

“We have airlifted electronic voting machines and ballot papers to be fixed on these for polling booths in Kaza division and polling parties will be dispatched on May 5,” the DC added.

Shimla, April 28
The Communist Party of India-Marxists (CPM) on Saturday asked the Election Commission to remove the Vice-Chancellor (VC) and the Dean of Students Welfare (DSW) of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), accusing the duo of illegally dissolving the elected Students Council Association (SCA) under pressure from the ruling Congress.

The CPM also demanded the release of all student leaders and restoration
of the SCA.

In a letter addressed to the Election Commission and state electoral officer, which was released to the media here on Sunday, CPM secretariat member Tikender Panwar alleged that the VC and the DSW were acting like agents of the ruling Congress and had dissolved the elected SCA out of political vendetta in the midst of Lok Sabha polls. The VC and the DSW are seeking extension and acting to please the political bosses, he charged.

They dissolved the SAC just because the association, members of the SFI and the Left wing students' body affiliated to the CPM had criticised the Congress at a press conference and urged students to vote against the party, the CPM said. They also said the government was following anti-students and anti-university policies, which infuriated the Congress, Panwar claimed.

Meanwhile, SCA-led students staged a protest on the campus in protest against the dissolution of the body.

Kullu, April 28
The three-day state-level Pipal Jatra (also known as Spring Festival) got off to a colourful start in Kullu today.
Kullu District and Sessions Judge Purender Vaidya inaugurated the festival at the Lal Chand Prarthi Kala Kendra at Dhalpur. Rishabh Kalia, president, Municipal Council, welcomed the chief guest and said traditional fairs and festivals exhibited and preserved rich cultural heritage of the area.

He said Kullu was known as the “valley of gods” and people here had a great belief in and association with local deities. He said cultural presentations would be held at the Kala Kendra with performances by Nitin and Sufi singer Rana Shad of TV programme Sa Re Ga Ma fame.

He said local village artistes would also present their skills and competence at the festival. A cricket tournament, involving 11 teams, was also organised from April 18. The president awarded Rs 31,000 to the winning team. A tug-of-war competition was organised among various mahila mandals of the district.

Kangra, April 28
Transport Minister GS Bali today described the statements of Modi as misleading to catch the voters’ attention and such statements would not strengthen the democracy.
Bali was addressing a press conference here. He said Modi had nothing to present to the country, so he was presenting Gujarat as a model of development. His claims were far from the truth.

He said, “Modi should not teach people of this hill state about the development of Gujarat because Himachal has already attained lot of development in the field of education, health and per capita income”.

He said the BJP leadership never touched local issues during its campaign.

Bali said NIFT at Kangra, Central University at Dharamsala, DRPGMC at
Tanda, NIT at Hamirpur, Rajeev Gandhi Govt Engineering College at Nagrota
Bagwan, Vidhan Sabha at Tapovan and IIIT at Una were the contribution of the Congress government.

Regarding Ramdev’s visit to this town, Bali alleged that Ramdev’s yog shivir had now turned to attachment shivir and the so-called yogi had come out allegedly as a BJP agent.

Bali said his remark was an insult to the Dalits and was reflecting the ego.

Kullu, April 28
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today addressed a public meeting at Anni subdivision of the district.
He said the Aut-Luhri road was converted into a national highway by the Congress party and the BJP government had no role in it.
He alleged that the BJP was carrying out a false propaganda and claiming the development works carried out by the Congress party to be their own.

He said the BJP had sidelined its senior leaders and were singing tunes of glory for one individual. He said he himself had remained the Chief Minister six times, while the BJP prime ministerial candidate boasts of being a CM thrice.

Virbhadra Singh added that Himachal was among the leading states in the spheres of education and health. Anni MLA Khubram Anand said Virbhadra was accepted as a leader of the masses in the state and the Congress party will be victorious on all four Lok Sabha seats.

Rampur MLA Nand Lal, former MLA Ishwar Dass and District Congress president Budhi Singh Thakur also addressed
the gathering.

Hamirpur, April 28
BJP leader PK Dhumal has accused the Congress-led UPA government of its failure to contain corruption, unemployment and price rise.
Addressing election meetings at
Chauri, Rangad and Patlander under the Sujanpur Assembly segment today, Dhumal said: “The Congress is resorting to cheap tactics in the election to hide failures of the UPA government.”

He said: “The Congress leaders are pressurising voters to vote for their candidate.”

Dhumal said: “After the election, Narendra Modi will form the government at the Centre and the state government will automatically fall under its own weight.”

He said: “The Election Commission of India has given a chance to voters of the Sujanpur Assembly constituency to improve the mistake they made during the last Assembly election.” He added that they would now vote for the BJP in the upcoming Assembly and parliamentary elections on May 7.”

Shimla, April 28
Efforts should be made to settle disputes by adopting the techniques of Alternative Disputes Resolution (ADR) mechanisms such as arbitration, conciliation, mediation, lok adalats and judicial settlement.

Acting Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir said this while inaugurating a three-day course on ADR Mechanism, Effective Court and Case Management and Procedural Issues of Trial in Civil Cases.

The course is being organised by the HP Judicial Academy from April 28 to 30 for senior and junior division civil judges of the state.

The Acting Chief Justice also advised judicial officers to act impartially and uphold the spirit of the Constitution of India.

He said Section 89 and other provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure should be effectively used to provide speedy and economic justice to the general litigant.

Director of the Judicial Academy CB Barowalia welcomed Mir, dignitaries and other officers.

Shimla, April 28
The Himachal Kisan Sabha yesterday alleged that the ruling Congress and BJP governments had failed to deal with the man-monkey conflict as also the stray cattle and dog problems.
Cases of monkey and dog bites have increased over the years, the sabha said.

Sabha president and CPM member Dr Kuldip Tanvar charged both
the Congress and BJP with having dumped the issues and indulging in hollow debates.

"Cases of monkey and dog bites, including the death of a child, have taken place, but the government has not woken up," he said.

He said the Congress and the BJP made a mention of the issues in their manifestos to get votes, but they dumped these after that. "The government resorted to short-term measures which have not yielded desired results," he claimed.

He claimed two-third of the cultivable land in the state faced conflict with wildlife and there was conflict with stray cattle too, but the government was silent on this.